How to Grow Dwarf Bamboo

Dozens of dwarf bamboo cultivars are available -- dwarf whitestripe bamboo, dwarf heavenly bambo and dwarf fernleaf bamboo, for example -- but only Pleioblastus pygmaeus claims the common name of dwarf bamboo. True to its name, dwarf bamboo is the smallest of the cold-hardy bamboos and grows 6 to 12 inches tall with vivid green, 1/8-inch diameter culms. Growing dwarf bamboo isn't difficult, but containing the spread of this running bamboo perplexes many gardeners. Prepare your garden before planting dwarf bamboo and you'll enjoy this tough but tiny plant for years to come.

Things You'll Need

Gloves
Shovel
Root barrier, preferably metal or concrete

Pruning shears
Lawn mower (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a moist but well-drained site that receives morning sun or partial shade. Dwarf bamboo grows in full sun in ideal locations with rich soil and, once established, tolerates dry periods.
- 2
  
  Running bamboos of any species spread through underground rhizomes.
  
  Plant dwarf bamboo in early spring, if possible. Dig a hole as deep as the container's soil but twice as wide, set the bamboo level with the surrounding ground and backfill firmly. Bury a root barrier to a depth of 3 feet around the planting site. This prevents the bamboo from spreading into your lawn, nearby flower beds or your neighbor's garden. Give the bamboo regular water for the first season.
- 3
  Mow the bamboo every two years in early spring. This encourages the bamboo to spread and creates a dense, bushy but low-growing thicket. When new spring growth appears, fertilize lightly with a high-nitrogen fertilizer. Use pruning shears to remove dead or broken culms.

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